Valve control



Dec. 30, 1952 HOWARD 2,623,618

VALVE CONTROL. Filed Aug. 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l I I ureutm' MORRIS -H. HOW/1R0 Dec. 30, 1952 M. H HOWARD 2,623,518

VALVE CONTROL Filed Aug. 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1 Q57- E- Inventor MORRIS H- HOWARD'- Dec. 30, 1952 M. H. HOWARD 2,623,618

VALVE CONTROL Filed Aug. 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor MORRIS H. HOWARD Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE CONTROL Morris H. Howard, Osburn, Idaho Application August 23, 1946, Serial No. 692,467

10 Claims. 1

The present invention has reference to a novel valve control and more especially pertains to a remote control means for attachment to a conventional valve for operating the same.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a device for controlling by automatic means the operation of a line valve by remote control; which device is adapted for attachment to conventional line valves with a minimum of alteration thereof; which may be installed thereon without necessitating the removal of the line valve from its assembly; which incorporates therein safety features preventing damage to the valve or the actuating means; which automatically causes deenergization of the actuating means when the valve has been moved to a predetermined open or closed position; and which permits the manual operation of the valve when desired.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention, which will later become apparcut as the following description proceeds, are realized by my invention, one embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an assembly including my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the valve actuating means, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring system of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the attached drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, denotes a fluid line having a control valve 12 therein, provided with a hand wheel operating means l4. A suitably located reversible electric motor l6 operates by a pulley and V-belt 18, or any other suitable drive means, my improved control means for the valve I 2.

As shown best in Figure 2, the valve 12 which is of conventional type has its usual valve stem, valve and packing nut replaced by my improved mechanism. This change can readily be made without removing the valve from the line 18 and by merely removing the customary valve packing nut. In accordance with my invention, a packing nut 22 is secured by the usual screw threads upon a bonnet threaded into the valve body 12 in place of the customary packing nut and is retained by means of a set screw 24 or the like.

The packing or stufling nut 22 is externally shouldered at 28 and rotatably receives and journals a rotary housing 28, which is retained by means of set screws 30 extending therethrough and loosely engaging an annular groove 32 (see Figure 4) upon an extending sleeve 34 of the nut 22. The lower end of housing 28 has a horizontal or laterally extending flange which forms a coupling plate 36 having non-metallic frictional linings 38 upon opposite sides thereof. A female coupling member 40 is journaled by means of sleeves 42 upon the housing 28, and has an annular chamber 44 receiving the coupling plate 36, a lower shoulder 46 providing a clutch surface engaging the lower lining 38. A coupling pressure plate 48 is loosely received in the chamber 44 and rests upon the upper surface of the upper lining 38, and has an extension 50 received in a keyway 52 of the chamber 44 to cause plate 48 to rotate with the coupling member 40. A plurality of clutch springs 54 are interposed between the pressure plate 48 and a washer 56 which may have a radial extension 51*engaging keyway 52, the springs being adjusted by means of a gland or nut 58 which is screw threaded into the chamber .44 and retained in adjusted position by a set screw 60. A pulley 62 is formed upon the circumference of coupling member 40 and receives the V-belt l8 or other drive mentioned above. Suitable oil holes 64 are provided for supplying lubricant to the coupling members.

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that actuation of motor l6 and belt I8 will produce rotation of the coupling member 48. By means of the engaging friction surfaces 48 and 46 of the female member and the male coupling plate 35 and the linings 38, the housing 28 is caused to rotate for a purpose to be later set forth. The adjusting nut 58 permits regulation of the springs 54 and consequently of the clutch action, it being understood that excessive torque between members 48 and 36 will efiect slippage of the coupling elements thereby preventing damage to the motor or the associated parts of the device.

Within the upper end of housing 28 is rotatably mounted a valve stem drive sleeve 66 having an axial squared aperture 68 through which extends the squared extremity In of a valve stem 12, having the hand wheel I 4 at its upper end. The bonnet 20 is provided with a recess and the customary valve stem packing 88, and is threaded as at 82 for engagement with the valve seat threads 84. An oil hole I is provided for lubricating the housing 28 and sleeve 66.

A manual latching means is adapted to releaseably secure housing 28 to the drive sleeve and consists of a bushing 86 screw threaded with housing 26 and bored to receive a latch pin 86 whose headed end 96 selectively engages aperture 92 in the driving sleeve 66. A spring 66 surrounds the pin 83 and biases the head 66 towards the sleeve 66, while a knurled pull knob 66 permits retraction of the latch pin. A rod 68 upon the knob 96 is engageable in a bore I66 in the bushing 86. When the knob 96 is pulled, the latch pin 88 and rod 98 are retracted, disengaging the latch head 90 from the aperture 92 in sleeve 66, and the rod 98 is engaged upon the surface of bushing 86 to hold the head 96 in inoperative position.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the latch pin 66 is disengaged, the driving connection between housing 28, coupling member 40 and motor I6 and the sleeve 66 and valve stem 16 is broken, and the valve head, not shown, may be adjusted relative to its seat, not shown, by manipulation of hand Wheel I4; when the latch pin 86 is engaged, the valve stem 76 is connected for manipulation by the motor and clutch as set forth hereinbefore.

It is intended that the valve stem 76 shall be rotated to opened or closed position by means of the reversible motor I6, through an electrical remotev control system of any suitable type such as that shown in Figure ,5. The reversible motor I6 has its brushes I62 connected by conductors I66 and I66 with a reversing switch I68 having a manually operable blade I64. A second pair of leads H6 and H2 are connected to switch I 68 and engage terminals H4 and I I6 respectively of the limiter switch H6. The snap-action blade I26 of the switch I I8 is in contact at one end with either of terminals H4 and H6 while the other end is in contact series with battery or other source of current, I22 by means of lead 524.

An actuating arm I26 is connected to the snap- 1 action switch blade I26, and is bifurcated at I26 for engagement and synchronized movement by the valve stem I2. A connecting arm I36 is pivoted to the actuating arm I26 and operates a rheostat I62, grounded at I62 and which is in series with a gauge or indicator I34 and the battery I22 by means of manual switch I36 and cables I46, I42 and I44.v

Reference is again made to Figures 1 and 2, wherein it may be seen that the yoke or bifurcated end I28 of the actuating arm I26 is caused to straddle or embrace a limiting or stop disk I46 which is axially adjustable upon valve stem it by means of a set screw I48. The arm I26 and blade I26 are pivoted upon a common pin I66 and are biased together in angular relation by a spring I52, the members I26, I26, E56 and I52 forming a conventional type of snap action mechanism. "mesh s-acti n swi ch. is arried y a pl I6 secured to a bracket I66 fastened to the pipe It as by a clamp I58.

The operation of the foregoing electric control mechanism is as follows when the switch I36 is closed an indicating circuit is energized to show at all times the position of the valve head to the valve seat by means of the axial displacement of the valve stem I6 and the adjustable stop I46. This circuit consists of the battery I22, the leads I24, I44, switch I36, lead I42, gauge or indicator [6d, lead I46 rheostat I32 and'the ground I62. It will beunderstood that as the disk I46 is moved axially with the valve stem 16, the actuating arm I26, the link I36 and the rheostat I32 are Corresp ndinely actuated to vary t str n th f current supplied to the motor I34. The latter is calibrated to the varying strength of the rheostat controlled current and indicates directly the amount of valve opening.

The remote control switch I66 is preferably mounted in conjunction with the indicator I36 upon a suitable control panel remotely positioned relative to the motor I6. Switch I66 has its blade I64 movable from a neutral or inoperative posi tion, shown in Figure 5, in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction for connecting alternate sets of contacts. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 5 the valve and consequently the valve stem stop I46 will be at the valve closed position. Let us assume that the switch is now rotated clockwise. The leads H2 and I66 will now be connected and the electric current will fiow from its source I22 to the motor I6 causing rotation in one direction and eifect movement of the valve stem I6, valve control means :66 and the valve head in an opening movement. As the valve opens, its stem I6 and the control I66 move axially causing pivotal movement of actuat ing arm I26. The indicating circuit and mechanism as above set forth indicate this movement. When the valve has reached its desired travel the disk I46, which may be axially adjusted upon the valve stem I0 for this purpose, trips the snapaction arm I26 and blade I26 and breaks the circuit through lead I24, arm I26 and contact H6, thereby deenergizing the motor I6, with the blade I26 now resting on terminal H4. Terminal H 1 however is not in a complete circuit, since switch blade I64 does not connect leads Hi1 and I64. When it is desired to close the valve, blade I64 is rotated into its counter-clockwise position, con necting leads I64 and I I6 and as blade I2!) is now engaging contact II4, the motor I6 is caused to rotate in the reverse direction, and closes the valve. The contact disk I46 now functions as before, but in the reverse direction, until the snapaction of switch H8 causes blade i26 to return to contact II6 again stopping the motor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a remote control switch for initiating movement of the motor which moves the valve to a predetermined extreme of travel and is auto-- matically cut off when that extreme is reversed. Simultaneously an electric indicating means at all times indicates the position of the valves.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a power operated valve provided with a support, a driven member rotatably journaled on said support, power means actuating said driven member, means preventing longitudinal movement of said driven member relative to said support, a further driven member rotatably carried by said first driven member, means detachably securing said driven members to each other for simultaneous rotation, a shait having a multi-sided shank portion, said further driven member having a multi-sided opening receiving the shank portion for rotation of said shaft with said further driven member, said power means including a pulley rotatably mounted on said first mentioned driven member, an endless connection between said pulley and the driving shaft of a motor, and an overriding coupling drivingly interconnecting said pulley and said first mentioned driven member.

2,. A power operated valve provided with a support, a first driven member rotatably journaled o s i suppo means for prev nting axial movement of said first driven member relative to its suppo t, a second driven em er rotata ly journaled on said first driven member, coupling means drivingly securing together said first and second driven members for simultaneous rotation, a third driven member rotatably journaled within said first driven member, a valve shaft extending upwardly through said third driven member, said valve shaft having a multi-sided shank portion closely engaging within a multi-sided opening in said third driven member, means detachably securing said third driven member to said first driven member.

3. The valve of claim 2 wherein said second driven member includes a pulley operatively connected to a power source.

4. A power operated valve provided with a support, a first driven member rotatably journaled on said support, means for preventing axial movement of said first driven member relative to its support, a second driven member rotatably journaled on said first driven member, coupling means drivingly securing together said first and L second driven members for simultaneous rota tion, a third driven member rotatably journaled within said first driven member, a valve shaft extending upwardly through said third driven member, said valve shaft having a multi-sided shank portion closely engaging within a multisided opening in said third driven member, means detachably securing said third driven member to said first driven member, said means detachably securing together said first and third driven members including latch means.

5. The valve of claim 2 wherein said coupling means drivingly securing together said first and second driven member includes an overriding coupling mechanism.

6. The valve of claim 4 wherein said latch means includes a bushing removably secured to said first driven member having a bor therethrough, an aperture in said third driven member adjacent said bushing, a latch pin retractably positioned in said bore and said aperture, and resilient means in said bushing normally urging one extremity of said latch pin into engagement with said aperture.

6 7. The combination of claim 6 and a further bore in said bushing, a knob at the other extremity of said latch pin, and a transversely extending rod carried by said knob and slidably ret'ained in said further bore.

8. The valve of claim 2 wherein said means preventing longitudinal movement of said firstmentioned driven member includes circumferentially spaced lugs projecting from the inner periphery of said first-mentioned driven member, and said support having an annular groove receiving said lugs.

, 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means detachably securing said first and third driven members includes latch means.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said latch means include a bushing removably secured to said first-mentioned driven member having a bore therethrough, an aperture in said further driven member adjacent said bushing, a

latch pin retractably positioned in said bore and said aperture, and resilient means in said bushing normally urging one extremity of said latch pin into engagement with said aperture.

MORRIS H. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

